goodnow



(No Model.)

L. H. 8v D. W. GOODNOW.

FOLDING TABLE. No. 348,201.

Patented Aug. 31, 1886.

a? 75m/L CMQ W4 n ou L zmctJS N. FETERa UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

LESLIE H. GOODNON AND DANIEL IV. GOODNOV, OF EAST SULLIVAN, N. H.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,201, dated August 31, 1886. Application filed May E21, IESS. Serial No. 202,859. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, LEsLIE H. GooDNow and DANIEL W. GooDNow, citizens of the United States, residing at East Sullivan, in the county of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Tables, of which the following` is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in folding tables; and it consists of the peculiar combination and novel construction and ar rangement 0f the Various parts for service, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The object of our invention is to provide an improved table, which shall fold very compactly for shipment and storagc,and be simple in construction and cheap and inexpensive of manufacture, to provide novel means for locking the legs of the table at the desired point for elevating the table to different heights, and which can be easily and readily operated to disengage it from the legs when folding the latter.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a folding table embodying our invention, Figure l is an inverted perspective view of the table in its unfolded position. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view through the table in its unfolded position. Figs. 3 and 4 are detached perspective views of parts of our improvements.

Referring tothe drawings, in which like letters of referen ce denote corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the top of our improved folding table, which is rectangular, square, or of any other preferred form and size, and B the transverse battens or cleats, which are arranged on the under side of the top and near the ends thereof. The transverse end battens are secured rigidly and immovably to the top, and are carried thereby.

C and D designate the folding legs of the table, which are arranged in pairs, the upper ends of the legs C being pivoted to one of the ends of the transverse battens B, as at c, and the other legs, D, being pivoted at or near their middle to the legs C, as at d, as clearly shown. The legs are thus free to swing on the pivots c and d, so that they can be adjusted in line with each to fold very compactly against the table-top and be also adjusted out of line and at au angle to each other, to support the table in an elevated position and at different heights, as will be more fully described presently.

E designates another transverse hatten, which is secured to the table-top at or near the middle thereof, and this middle batten is arranged parallel with and between the end battens,l3, as shown. This hatten E is slotted horizontally for nearly its entire length, as at e, and it is suitably secured to the top very firmly and rigidly, so that it cannot become displaced 0r broken easily. 'The upper ends of the swinging legs D are connected by a transverse tie-bar, F, and this bar F slides in the slot e of the middle hatten, E, when the legs D are adjusted, the lower ends of the said legs D being connected by a similar bar, F, which serves to brace and strengthen the legs.

G designates a gravitating latch that is arranged in a longitudinal vertical slot, g, of the middle hatten, E, the latch being arranged above the horizontal slot e, so that its notches engage with the tie-bar F of thelegs when the latter are adj usted.

The latch G is pivoted at or near one end to the middle batten, E, as at g', so that its other end is left free, and the free end of the latch is formed into a finger-piece, g2, which extends through aslot, g3, in the end of the middle hatten, E, so that it can be easily grasped by the operator t0 elevate the latch when it is desired to disengage the notches ouV the latch from the tie-bar F in adjusting the legs. The latch is provided on its lower edges with aseries of notches or detents, h and h', the latter of which, 7L', is provided with curved edges which permit the tie-bar F to ride freely over the latch in entering or receding from the middle notch, while the notches hare provided with parallel sides which securely retain the tie-bar from movement between them, so that the table is very steady and rigid. NVheu the free end of the latch is elevated,the lower edge thereof lies flush with the edges of the vertical slot g, and the latch lies wholly within the slot g, by which it is concealed, and the tiebar F can be moved freely back and forth in the slot e of the middle hatten, E, without hindrance from the latch, and when the free IOO end of the latch is released it falls down by gravity, so that its detents or notches lie below the edges of the vertical slot e asufficient distance to enable the detents to engage the tie-bar very squarely and retain the latter against movement.

The operation of our invention is as follows: When it is desired to unfold the table, the legs C and D are forced away from each other on their pivots d, so that they are out of line with each other, and the tie-barF rides in the slot e of the middle batten, the latch being elevated by hand to permit the bar Fto pass for a sufficient distance and elevate the tabletop to a sufficient height above the floor or ground, when the latch is lowered or dropped to permit the proper detent or notch to engage or fit over the tie-bar, and thus prevent the legs from play or movement. It will be seen that when the notch or detent h nearest the pivot of the latch engages the tie-bar F the top is elevated at one height above the floor, and when the detent h at the free end of the latch and farthest away from the pivot thereof engages the tie-bar F the top is lowered,and thus supported at a diiferent height. To fold the legs together, the legs D are forced toward the legs C and lie parallel therewith, or in line with the legs C, and the latch is elevated so that its detents are ont of the path of the tiebar F, to adapt the latter to move freely in the slot e, after which the legs are folded against the top of the table to fold the latter very compactly for shipment or storage.

It will be readily seen from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, that we provide a folding table which is very compact and simple in its construction as well as strong and durable, can be easily and quickly operated to fold or unfold it, and is cheap and inexpensive of manufacture.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a folding table, a top having the end battens and the pivoted swinging legs C D, carrying a tie-bar, in combination with a batten, E, affixed to the top intermediate of its end battens and provided with the horizontal and vertical slots which open into each other, and a pivoted latch, Gr, arranged in a vertical slot of the batten E above the tie-bar which slides in the horizontal slot, and provided with the detents in its lower edge, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

LESLIE H. G-OODN OW. DANIEL WV. GOODNOW. 

